Death is not to be feared--but carefully regarded.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have survived two near death experiences: one in 1970 and more recently in 2008.  Survived an abusive relationship with a sadistic spouse who tried to murder me a number of times.  But I survived.

During these near death experiences changes my view of truth and the teachings revealed to us by Jesus Christ.  “Death is the final healing” is a quote from a worthwhile writing, Death, The Final Surrender.

After reading the book, I was not depressed, nor did I dwell on my death.  But the writings of Father Cedric helped me to live well NOW, and inspire and prepare me for my ultimate appointment with sister death.  My favorite Psalm which helped me during my grief of the loss of my mother from this world is Psalm 90:12.  This Psalm teache us that our days a numbered to three score plus ten (70 years).  The essence of the Psalm also teaches us that while we are on earth we may be a heart filled with wisdom.

Instead of denying death will come my way, the Psalmist prayed to learn from the eventuality of our passing.  The wisdom I pray for is the tool needed to live life well.  Wisdom means learning and growing from our experiences and the experiences of others.

To live wisely, we must live upliftingly, love selflessly, and celebrate life now while we have it.

There are various views of death: Buddists beieve in reincarnation; Hindus believe in reincarnation, and is fact Hindus view life as an illusion, and they keep being reborn until they find their true self.

The Bahai faith believes in an afterlife, but view the world like a mother’s womb, and death is only a new birth from that womb.

Jews believe in afterlife.  When the faithful die, they go to the abode of the righteous souls awaiting sesurrection.  If one did not study the law and did not seek God while alive, their souls will remain near their bodies in confusion and sadness.  Christians believe similarly, and many movies and works of fiction tell stories of ghosts who cannot leave the Earth until closure to some issue is found. 

We all have selfishness and compromise in our hearts.  None of us loves others as we should.  We all need to be purged of narcissism and selfishness.  Those are goals I wholeheartedly strive to achieve, but as any flawed human, often fall short.

All of us have choise in life and tere are eternal consequences to our choices.  Grace of life – with grace comes responsibility.

Too often today, many are living only for the hear and now.  They convince themselves that they care for others but do little tohelp anyone.  Always going day to day intending to get involved, but failing to follow through – reminds me of the old adage: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

The fire of hell will be the burning of shame, regret, anguish, and embarrassment because you realize how you have failed on Earth, and that your life was actually a travesty.

Do not waste the gift of life.  Truths call upon us to live with faith, integrity, and love.  Truths demand accountability and responsibility.  The time God gives us on earth is a gift to us for which we are responsible.  We must choose life in order to live.  Choices we make and the way we live our life now have everything to do with eternity.

Lead a good, honest life now and don’t sabotage your life with foolish choices that will come back to haunt you later in life, or your decendants after you have left this world.

Believers, as am I, express their faith through good deeds and caring for people will bring enrichment and blessedness of heaven.

Make sure you know where you are going; reach out to others.  Get back to basics, and reflect on how we will perceive our life at our end on earth.